Al4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 23,1981
‘Thoroughbred’ tractors lead the field, finish first
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - For
the past several decades the entire
farm tractor industry has been
moving in a well-defined product
pattern.
What has evolved from the
drawing boards of the tractor
designers during this tune is a
sleek and trim, high-powered -
thoroughbred vehicle that weighs
less and is able to farm faster,
notes Gary L. Smith, Extension
Agricultural Engmeer at the
Umversity of Maryland.
These new tractors are definitely
more efficient, more manageable,
more productive and certainly
more appropriate for the time,” he
claims.
Industry averages for per
formance of tractors have shown a
dramatic decline in both the
ballasted and unballasted weight.
Since the early 1960’5, the average
ratio of ballasted tractor weight to
PTO/HP has decreased from 160
pounds per PTO horsepower to an
average of 115 pounds.
“Many people have failed to
recognize this significant trend
and its multiple implications,”
says Smith. “Though several
tractor manufacturers have
alluded to the high horsepower-to
weight tractor in the past, the
concept has not been aggressively
promoted.”
This concept of higher hor
sepower-to-tractor weight means
today’s farmer can increase
production by using what has been
coined ‘The Rapid Farming
System’.
“If he purchases a tractor with
25 percent more horsepower than
the one he is using, he can cover 20
percent more ground using the
ground working tool he already
owns, assuming conditions will let
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him travel faster,” states Smith.
“A 100 hp tractor pulling your 20 ft.
disk harrow at 4 mph could ef
fectively cover 8 acres per hour;
where 125 hp tractor pulling the
same 20 ft. disk harrow at 5 mph
will effectively cover 10 acres per
hour.”
The alternative to going faster
using the same implement is, of
course, to use the extra hor
sepower to pull a new, wider im
plement, adds Smith. But it is a
mistake to assume that, in all
cases, 25 percent more horsepower
will necessarily let you increase
the implement size by the same
amount.
Drawbar horsepower is a func
tion of speed as well as drawbar
pounds pull. Therefore, you can
transmit more drawbar hor
sepower at higher speeds, Smith
explains.
“You will find that most
problems of excessive wheel
slippage occur when tractors are
overhauled at the drawbar and
required to gb to lower travel
speeds, 4 mph or less. By farming
Distributor
at higher travel speeds with the
proper sized implement, you lower
draft forces and improve traction.
Smith suggests farmers always
match implements so they can
travel at 5 mph or faster. Ideally,
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Deputy
Secretary of Agriculture Richard
E. Lyng signed protocols for ex
tending the International Wheat
Agreement of 1971, which was due
to expire on June 30. The protocols
will be submitted to the Senate for
ratification.
The Wheat Trade Convention of
1971 and the Food Aid Convention
of 1980 together comprise the In
ternational Wheat Agreement of
1971. Hie protocols for a two-year
extension of the conventions were
adopted in London on March 6,
1981.
At Hamilton Bank, we still
make house calls.
One of the biggest advantages
Hamilton Bank can offer you is
personal service - local contact
through local offices.
We have 63 offices throughout
Southcentral Pennsylvania farm
areas So there's one close to you
You probably know your local
Hamilton Bank manager. He’s a
neighbor, a fnend And when you
need his help, he’s willing to come to
David and Jane Hess discussing their farm records with John Moose, Assistant Director of Hamilton Bank's Agn-Finance Department The
Hess Family operates a 70 cow dairy farm on Second Lock Road, R D #6, Lancaster '
Deputy
wheat agreement extension
you If it’s more convenient, he’ll
come out to your house, sit down,
and work nght along with you to take
care of any problems or questions
you may have
He knows his business, he
understands farming, and he's
backed up by a seasoned
Agn-Fmance Department So when
you have a question about banking,
just call yoyr friend at Hamilton Bank
He still makes house calls
the implement is then sized
correctly to the tractor.
There are, of course, some field
conditions that will necessitate a
slower than 5 mph speed.
“If you are disking diagonally to
Ag Secretary signs
This sixth extension of the Wheat
Trade Convention, like the five -
previous extensions, maintains the
framework for international
cooperation in wheat trade mat-
The extension will authorize
the International Wheat Council to
continue to collect, analyze and
disseminate data on the in
ternational wheat situation,
particularly regarding supply,
demand, trade and prices.
Similarity, the first extension of
the Food Aid Convention of 1980
maintains the parties’ com-
the com row, you should shift down
and go slower. Certainly, if you
select an implement too large for
this operation, you will again be
overloading and straining your
tractor,” Smith cautions.
mitments to provide minimum
annual quantities—totaling 7.6
million metric tons annually—of
food aid to developing countries.
For the United States, this com
mitment amount to 4.47 million
tons.
Present at the signing were
representatives of the National
Association of Wheat Growers, and
U.S. Wheat Associates.
J!ob
HAMILTON
BANK